Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre - Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School

PBT launched its first comprehensive Arts Education program in 1989 with a seed grant from the Henry C. Frick Educational Commission. In its first year the program reached 6000 children. Since that time, PBT has reached more than 65,000 children from over 200 school districts in a four-state region.

The PBTS has an enrollment of approximately 300 students and offers more than 12 levels of studio instruction six days per week. The PBTS/Schenley High School Program, enables exceptionally talented students to continue high school study while pursuing intensive, professional dance training. Students in the Schenley Program earn academic credit for additional dance classes in the morning. The curriculum includes, technique, pointe or men's, partnering, jazz, character, and pilates classes. The Graduate Program provides advanced level training to high school graduates who are preparing to audition for professional positions. While the Grad students have the same technique classes as students in the Schenley Program, they concentrate more on learning and rehearsing repertoire. Graduates of the PBTS are dancing in professional ballet companies nationwide.

The school has two main performances. Schenley Showcase is in May in the PBT studios, and only features dancers from the Schenley or Graduate Programs. The Spring Performance is held at the Byham Theater downtown the first Saturday in June. Students may also be used in other company productions, especially The Nutcracker.

The dancers who attended PBTS and are now dancing at different ballets across the world are:

2009-2010

• Amanda Whites, Dance Theatre of Tennessee

• Kristie Latham, Ballet Met (Trainee)

• Katie Miller, Sacramento Ballet (Apprentice)

• Molly Wright, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Becca Cross, Rochester City Ballet

• Ava Chatterson, Sacramento Ballet

• Kelly Ford, Sacramento Ballet (Apprentice)

• Jordan Richardson, Nevada Ballet Theater

• Shanna Gayer, University of Pittsburgh

• Meghan Wright, Sacramento Ballet

• Amber Runyan, North Carolina Dance Theater (Trainee)

• Christina Gratton, Boston University

• Caitlin Mayes, University of Texas

• Ted Henderson, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Erik Johnson, Rochester City Ballet

• Yoshiaki Nakano, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Anna Porter, Columbia City Ballet

2008-2009

• Elizabeth Ashbaugh, Louisville Ballet (Apprentice)

• Amanda Cochrane, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (Apprentice)

• Ashley Hamman, Ballet Quad Cities

• Caitlin McElroy, Atlantic City Ballet (Apprentice)

• Benjamin Rabe, Rochester City Ballet

• Amanda Radetzky, Victoria Ballet

• Kelsey Schneider, Rochester City Ballet (Apprentice)

• Casey Taylor, Pacific Northwest Ballet (Professional Division)

• Benjamin Tucker, Richmond Ballet (Apprentice)

• Kirsten Wipperfeld, Richmond Ballet (Trainee)

• Carissa Chandler*, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (retired/injured)

2007-2008

• Steven Bain, Ballet Idaho

• Sonja Davenport, Cincinnati Ballet (Trainee)

• Devon Darrow, Richmond Ballet (Trainee)

• Kelly Jarrell, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (Apprentice)

• Corynn Miller, Rochester City Ballet (Apprentice)

• Joseph Parr, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Patrick Yokum, Boston Ballet II

• Jessica Wheeler, Louisville Ballet (Trainee)

2006-2007

• Gauen Alexander, Alabama Ballet

• Alexis Antolic, Louisville Ballet

• Kaleb Baker, Ballet Quad Cities

• Kelsey Bartman, Nashville Ballet

• Allison Debona, Ballet West

• Patrick DesRosiers, Ballet Quad Cities

• Danielle Downey, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Sasha Edelman, Ballet Arizona

• Laurie Lou Garside, Richmond Ballet (Apprentice)

• Alana Gergerich, Omaha Theater Ballet

• Shannon Hokanson, Louisville Ballet (Trainee)

• Temple Kemezis, Connecticut Ballet

• Emily Long, Ballet Quad Cities

• Gabrielle Thurlow, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Brittany Waggy, Ballet Quad Cities

• Kelly Walsh, Alabama Ballet

• Ashley Wegman, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Aleksandr York, Omaha Theater Ballet

2005-2006

• Michelle Joy, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Metropolitan Opera

• Kimberly Tasota, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Nicholas Coppula, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Roberto Curti, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (Apprentice)

• Eva Trapp, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Brienne Wiltse, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

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